Monday 16 July 2012

Olympic Athlete Interview: Julia Wilkinson



Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Swimmer Julia Wilkinson has exactly 11 days to go before her first race at the London Olympic Games. No stranger to the international stage, the Stratford, Ontario native represented Canada at the 2008 Games in Beijing, where she  broke the Canadian record in the semi-final of the 200-meter individual medley and finished seventh in the final. She has represented Canada at the Wold Championships and the Commonwealth Games, as well as numerous national and international competitions. We stole a few minutes from her busy schedule to talk motivation, active kids, and yoga!


BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?
JW: Representing Canada at the Olympic Games. Even though I want to do much more than just "be there", there is no better feeling in the world than having the opportunity to represent your country at the Olympics. It's something that so many athletes dream of but so few are lucky enough to experience.

BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?
JW: The general population who want to get fit share something with top athletes: they want something out of exercise. We want to win. They want to get fit! It's all about having a goal, because that is where all your motivation stems from.

Photo: Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press
BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?
JW: Of course there are days when I don't feel like training, for any number of reasons: I am too sore or tired from my previous workout, I am distracted by other fun or stressful activities, or I just simply "am not in the mood". My goal is the first thing that keeps me going: winning an Olympic medal is incredibly hard to do, and there are lots of people you have to beat. People who are training. I try to imagine what they are doing in that moment, and that gets me out of bed fast! Also, I always know that I will feel better after I am done working out, because the guilt I will feel from not working out is significantly worse than any pain I will feel during a workout. Plus, hard exercise releases endorphins! If you are feeling like crap before you go to the gym, you will feel better after. You just need to remind yourself of that.
BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?
JW: I tell people what I always tell my mom: the first workout is always the worst! Don't fall into a pattern of working out once, thinking it's "too hard", and then not going back again for another month. You will just keep repeating "workout number one", and trust me, nothing is worse than workout number one. The first time I get in the pool after a week off, every stroke is a struggle. But you have to get through it, and you will find your rhythm. You don't need to start off like a crazy person--you will burn out--but make a realistic goal about going to the gym and sticking to it. Say you will do at least forty-five minutes three times per week for a month. Then assess if you "like" working out. I think you will want to keep doing it.
BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?
JW: I love granola with plain yogurt and fresh berries. Sometimes I splurge and buy the freshly made, albeit super expensive, granola. This snack is great for before or after training: carbs to keep you going, protein to replenish your muscles, and antioxidants in the berries!

Photo: Deanna McCollum

BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?
JW: Kids should have physical education every single day in school. I can almost hear people gasping at this, but they should. Phys. Ed has been slashed year after year and now the kids are barely doing it at all (my mom is an 8th grade teacher in Ontario). Also, we have become so concerned that kids will feel "bad" about themselves if they are forced to do exercise and aren't good at it. Well, I was forced to do math, and I am not good at math. You can only get better at something if you are coached (or taught) and practice. Basketball is not all that different from math, at the end of the day: some people will be naturally gifted at it, some will have to work hard and will still never score a basket. But no one will get better if they refuse to participate! And, as someone with a degree in communication, math really doesn't play a huge role in my life (other than counting how many lengths I have to do) but exercise is something that affects everyone! Why would you take out a course that builds a foundation for a child's healthy life? Kids aren't born sedentary, they learn laziness. We can stop it before it starts.
BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?
JW: Obviously, leading an active life equals leading a healthy life, that is a given. But for me, being an athlete has been huge for my self-esteem, and that is something that is always in jeopardy for young kids, especially girls. Watching yourself improve and achieving a goal in sport - whether it is making the high school team or the Olympic team - spills over into the rest of your life. I believe I can do anything if I really want to, and it's because of what sport has taught me. 
BMP: What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?
JW: Yoga! I would do yoga every day if I had time! I used to hate it, because I was so bad at it, but then I stopped measuring myself against others and only against myself. I always feel much better after I have some one-on-one time with my yoga mat.

Thursday 5 July 2012

Olympic Athlete Interview: Nikola Girke



There have been a fair number of world class athletes who have competed in two Olympic Games, but very few who have done so in two different sports. At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, West Vancouver native Nikola Girke represented Canada crewing on the two person 470 sailboat, finishing 13th.The following year, this multi-talented athlete switched to RS:X windsurfing, launching another — yet completely different — Olympic campaign for Beijing 2008. A respectable 17th place finish at those Games inspired Nikola to continue in pursuit of bringing home an Olympic Medal for Canada this summer. Nikola has competed in World Championships, Pan American Games, and European Championships alongside competitors who have been windsurfing for decades. She is the sole Canadian representative at the London 2012 Olympic Games in women's windsurfing, and the perfect inspiration for those of us who would love to master even one activity!

BMP: What achievements are you most proud of?
NG: I am most proud of having switched Olympic sports from being a crew on the double handed 470 sailboat dinghy in Athens 2004 to competing in windsurfing at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.  To make that switch was incredibly daunting and a lot of hard work. Since Beijing, I’ve been relentless in my training and am a medal contender for the London 2012 Games.
BMP: Do you think Canada’s top athletes have anything in common with the general population who want to get fit?
NG: Yes, absolutely, we all are capable of getting fit. We all have goals and we make choices on how to achieve these goals. Athletes are probably tougher on themselves, disciplining themselves to endure when others wouldn’t. I like the quote by Lou Holtz: "Ability is what you are capable of. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

BMP: Are there days where you don’t feel like training? In those moments, what motivates you/what advice would you give to those who can’t seem to get motivated?
NG: I am human after all…so that goes without saying – I don’t feel like training all the time. Training on the water when it’s cold and raining is miserable at best, so getting out of the house is half the battle. Set a time - being accountable to someone like a friend/training partner/coach or a schedule you post on your fridge is key, and know that the sooner you do it…the sooner it’s over with. Knowing how good I’ll feel after and knowing that I will have outworked my competition are all motivating factors too.

Photo by Mike Wakefield
 BMP: What are your top tips for those who want to lead a more active lifestyle but don’t know where to start?
NG: Set goals, short – medium and long term goals that are measurable and realistic so you can achieve success. Start off with a few times per week and progress from there, you want to build into a routine, not destroy yourself by leaping straight into it. And most importantly you’ve got to enjoy yourself. Pick activities that you enjoy and do them with friends.  
BMP: Many people are concerned that our schoolchildren are not as active as they should be – if you could implement one initiative in Canadian schools what would it be?
NG: I think it’s really important for kids these days to be active everyday. Each school day should include physical education, centered around healthy eating and exercise that is fun. If kids have fun, they’ll be more likely to do it in their own time too rather than turning to all the sedentary distractions like TV, video games etc. that are available.

BMP: What for you is the number one benefit to leading an active life?
NG: I like feeling fit and being healthy, and the bonus…the more active I am, the more energy I have.

BMP: What’s your favourite healthy snack?
NG: Sugar Snap Peas and all berries… but not together!

BMP:  What’s your favourite ‘active health’ activity to do on a day off from training?
NG: Days off are tough – they are supposed to be solely for recovery, however, I’m not good with just lazing around all day. If I’m near a surfing spot … I’d go surfing. Going for an easy hike, a nice walk or a bike ride with friends is a great way to get outside and move, which also helps recovery.

Follow Nikola's progress on facebook, twitter, and her website